Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with liquid material



Jan. 25, 1944. A. H. FEIKERT APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEER STOCKINGS WITH LIQUID MATERIAL Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'JHL/EHZZVL. jdwan fiEFEikEEZ Jan. 25, 1944. FElKERT I 2,340,214

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEER STOCKINGS WITH LIQUID MATERIAL Filetl July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JHL/EWZL jab/an EFEM'EEZ" f Flgf7 is'ia 'off'igaly i Patented Jan. 25, 1944 APPARATUS FOR TREATLNG'SHEER STOCK- IN GS WITH LIQUID MATERIAL Adrian H. Feikert, Wadsworth, Ohio, assignor to Akron, Ohio, a corpora- American Anode Inc.

tion of Delaware Application July 25, 1941, SeiialNo. 404,054

21 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating sheer stockings with liquid materials and for similar purposes and is especially concerned with novel apparatus and procedure for treating silk stockings and the like with aqueous colloidal dispersions of solid materials such as rubber, synthetic rubber, synthetic rubbery materials, natural and synthetic resins, and the like. which are adapted to strengthen or reinforce the knitted structure of the stockings.

The invention has for its chief objects the provision of simple, economical and efiicient apparatus and procedure for treating silk stockings in a continuous and progressive fashion with liquid treating materials; the provision of apparatus adapted to operate in a continuous fashion for treating stockings with liquid materials and for thereafter removing excess treating material from the stockings; the provision of a continuously operating apparatus adapted to convey stockings past treating stations and for automatically discharging the treated stockings from the conveyor means after completion of the treatment; the provision of novel apparatus and procedure for dragging the stockings through the treating liquid in such manner as to effect improved impregnation of the knitted structure of the stockings with the liquid material; and generally to provide economy and efficiency inapparatus and procedure for treating fabricated fibrous articles with liquid materials.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained will appear from the following detailed description of the in:

vention as exemplified by a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 Ba more or less diagrammatic side elevation showing an apparatus embodying the. present invention in a preferred form; Fig.2 is a fragmentary elevational view ShQW? ing a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1,onan enlargedscale;

'Fig. 3 is a vertical'section taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2;-

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5- 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an end-elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the viewbeing taken from the lefthand end of the apparatus as viewed in Fig.1;

vertical S arc taken on iine i i Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view'show ing a portion of the conveyor tape used in the by means of a traveling filamentary conveyor element having sharp pointed projections on which the stockings are hooked by impaling reinforced portions. of. the stockings on the pointed projections, the remaining portions of the stockings being permitted to trail freely as the conveyor element progresses. The pointed projections preferably are inclined forwardly so that the stockings will be retained thereon so long as the tape is progressing forwardly or upwardly and so that the stockings will slide off automatically when the tape is progressing downwardly. In the apparatus the tape travels forwardly or upwardly past the several treating stations but thereafter changes its direction to a sharply downward course so that the stockings are discharged automatically when the treatment is completed. In the course of the treatment, the stockings'are dragged in a generally horizontal direction through the treating liquid in such manner as to effect greatly improved and more thorough impregnation and saturation of the knitted stocking structure with the treating liquid. Immediately thereafter, the stockings are passed between presser rolls which serve to express excess liquid from the stockings. Thereafter, any liquid films which may have formed across the interstices of the stocking structure are removed by means 'of a forceful blast of air or equivalent gaseous material.

The preferred apparatus shown'in the drawings comprises a relatively long and narrow table-like structure l0 formed of structural steel or other suitable material. Mounted on the table is provided a container ll adapted to contain the liquid treating material L. The container ll preferably is relativelyshallow, for example about 6" in depth, but has a relatively great length, preferably at least twice the length of the stockings S to be treated. An inclined surface or apron I2 is provided-at one end of the tank sloping upward to an end edge of the tank and forming a lip over the edge as shown at l3. The apron l2 should be formed of smooth sheet metal or other non-snagging material of such character that stockings may be dragged over it without injuring them.

The filamentary conveyor element preferably comprises an endless metal tape 14 which may be a thin stainless steel tape about wide. A number of pointed projections constituting stock-retaining hooks l5-l5 preferably along the edges of the tape at positions spaced apart by distances somewhat greater than the length of the stockings to be treated. In a preferred form, the pointed projections or hooks are formed by cutting inclined slots l5-l5 into the edges of the tape. The slots lS-IB should be cut in rearwardlyinclined directions so that the resulting stocking-retaining projections will be inclined forwardly (the indicated inclinations in both instances being with respect to a transverse section of the tape). It will be appreciated that the resulting projections or hooks 15-15 will lie in the plane of the tape so that the tape may pass readily over smooth surfaces, about guide rollers, and the like. In a modified form of tape, illustrated in Fig. 11, the required sharp projections may be provided by soldering or welding short lengths of wire l'l-l'l to the tape i l-a, preferably at the edge portions as shown, and preferably in forwardly inclined directions as hereinabove described.

Thetape 14 preferably should be in endless form so that it may pass repeatedly about the apparatus although it is, of course, possible to unreel the tape at one end to wind it up at the other end of the apparatus. One or a plurality of tapes may be utilized by suitable modification of the apparatus to provide any desired capacity. For purposes of illustration, apparatus utilizing two tapes has been shown. As shown in the drawings, the tapes M in endless form are looped about the apparatus and each tape travels in a path including a generally horizontalreach extending through the tank ll followed by an upwardly inclined reach which in turn is followed by a downwardly inclined reach and finally a long horizontal return reach. Thus, the tapes pass about a guide roller l8,

thence in close proximity to the apron l2, .OVer

the lip I3, then downward at a slight angle but still in a generally horizontal direction to the guide roller l9 disposed underneath the liquid L in the tank II at' a point adjacent the remote end of the tank, so that a considerable portion of each tape passes underneath the liquid in the tank in the course of its passage through the generally horizontal reach. From the guide roller 19, the tapes pass upward at a rather sharp angle in the neighborhood of 60 to the horizontal, thence over guide rollers 23-20 rota ably mounted at the top of tubular supports 2l-2l, which in a typical case should be about 9 feet high. From the guide rollers 29, the tapes pass in a downward direction at a -generally similar angle, thence about the guide roller 22 at the left hand end of the apparatus, and thence back through the return horizontal reach to the guide roller 18. It will thus be appreciated that the tapes change direction sharply from an upward to a downward direction at the peak of the angle adjacent the guide rolls formed by the upward reach and the downward reach of each tape. i i

Just abqve thetpQi-ntat which thez apes l4 are provided emerge from the liquid in the tank H is provided a pair of presser rolls 23, 23 which embrace the tapes at a point along the upwardly inclined reach.

Further along the upwardly inclined reach are provided means for discharging forceful blasts of air across the path of the tapes. The air discharge means conveniently may comprise pairs of opposed perforated pipes 24, 24 arranged on either side of the tapes and supplied by air or analogous gaseous fluid under pressure as by means of a conduit 25.

The tapes 14 are caused to travel in a continuous fashion by frictional engagement with rubber covered presser rolls 26-26 which are driven by a motor 21-through a gear reduction unit 28 and sprocket chain 29 and spur gears 32-39. The presser-rolls 23-23 are driven by sprocket chain .tl from the shaft of one of the rollers 26.

In the course of their travel along the horizontal return reach the tapes is are thoroughly cleaned by passage between rapidly rotating brushes 32-32which may be ordinary stiff bristle brushes. The brushes 32 are driven by means of a motor 33 and appropriate connecting belt 34 and spur gears 35-35. In operating the apparatus, the tapes I4 travel continuously. about the path as shown in the drawings at a speed of about 10 feet per minute in a typical case. Stockings S to be treated are attached individually to the hooks or projections l5 as the respective hooks pass over the apron l2. the stockings being spread out along the apron by the operator as they are attached to the hooks. Preferably the reinforced portion of the stocking adjacent the toe end .is impaled on, a hook and the rest of the stocking is spread out on the apron. Thus, as the tape progresses forwardly, the stockings are dragged along the apron l2, over the curved lip l3, thence down into the treating liquid in the tank I I and along through the liquid in a generally horizontal direction for a considerable distance. It will thus be appreciated that the treating liquid is caused in effect to flow through the stockings thus efiecting exceptionally tho-rough and complete impregnation and saturation of the textile material constituting the stockings.

After trailing through the treating liquid, the stockings are pulled upward between the presser rolls 23-23 which serve to express all theexcess or free surface liquid from the stockings. Promptly thereafter, the stockings are carried between the air discharge pipes 24-24 and the blast of air from the pipes serves to blow films from the interstices. In a typical installation, the air discharge means was arranged to discharge 35 to 40 cubic feet of air per minute and a line pressure of 20 pounds per sq. inch was maintained. h

Next, the tapes carry the stockings upward past the peak of the angle adjacent theguide rolls 20 and the stockings then are automaticallydischarged from the pointed projections as the tapes progress downwardly past the rolls 2U. To prevent the stockings from accidentally becoming fouled on the supporting structures 2| or the guide rolls 20, outwardl bowed guide members 36-31 are mounted on each of the supports 2| adjacent the top thereof. As may be seen from Fig.5; the guide members in each instance extend out from the support 2| to the path of the tape l4 and thence bow outward so that the stockings willbe swung outward. from the supporting-structure. Also, each upper guide member 31 preferably is provided with upwardly extending curved arms 38-which follow the upper periphery of the roll 20 on either side thereof in order to keep the stockings from engaging the edge of the roll. For further guarding against such undesirable engagement of the stockings with the roll 20, circular discs 3939 (see Fig. 3) corresponding in diameter to the roll 20 are mounted closely adjacent to the respective ends of the roll 20, rotation of the discs 39 being prevented by studs 40 which extend through the wall of the tubular support 2| and engage the discs.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that stockings to be treated are individually impaled on the hooks I by an operator as the tapes pass over the apron [2. The stockings are then carried past various treating stations and finally are discharged automatically as the tapes pass the rolls 20, the stockings slidin all the downwardly directed hooks automatically and dropping to the end portion 4| of the table I 0. 1

The treated stockings then are mounted on wire frames 43 and a number of such mounted stockings are hung on a suitable cart 44 and wheeled into a conventional heated oven 45 for drying and, if required by the nature of the treating material, for vulcanization as well. Thereafter, the finished stockings are removed from the wire frames.

Actual factory use of the apparatus described 0 has demonstrated that it attains to a high degree the objects hereinabove set out. The stockings are treated continuously with a minimum of handling and with minimum of labor and exceptionally uniform and complete saturation and treat ment are attained. The extreme simplicity of the apparatus insures low cost and the automatic and continuous features of operation contribute greatly toward operating economy.

Numerous modifications and variations. in details of the apparatus and procedure as hereinabove described may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless metal tape having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along an edge thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings will'hang thereon when the tape is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide off when the tape is'progressing downwardly; means for causing said tape to travel in a continuou fashion through a path including, in sequence, a generally horizontal reach, an upwardly inclined reach, and a downwardly inclined reach; a container for the liquid material disposed adjacent to the horizontal reach so that the tape travels underneath the liquid in the container for a substantial distance and drags through the liquid material stockings carried by the tape; presser rolls embracing the tape at a position along the upwardly inclined reach near the point of emergence from the liquid material for pressing excess liquid material from the stockings; air discharge means directed across the path of the tape furtheralong the upwardly inclined reach for clearing liquid material from the interstices of the stocking material; and guide means for swinging the stockings outward from the tape and its support at the peak of the angle between the upward reach and the downward reach. i

2'. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; ;said apparatus comprising, in combination, afilamentary element having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along the length thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings will hang thereon when the filamentary element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide ofi when the elementis progressing downwardly; means for causing said filamentary element to travel through a path including in sequence, .a generally horizontal reach, an upwardly inclined reach and a downwardly inclined reach; a container for the liquid material disposed adjacent to the generally horizontal reach so that the filamentary element travels underneath the liquid in the container for a substantial distance and so drags through the liquid material stockings.carried on the aforesaid projections; presser rolls embracing the filamentary element at a position along the upwardly inclined reach for pressing excess liquid from the stockings; air discharge means directed across the path of the tape further along the upwardly inclined reach for clearing liquid from the interstices of the stocking material; and guide means for swinging the stockings outward from the filamentary element and its support at the peak of the angle between the upward reach and the downward reach of the path of travel.

3. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a. filamentary element having -a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along the length thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings will hang thereon when the filamentary element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide off when the element is progressing downwardly; means for causing the filamentary element to travel through a path including, in sequence, a generally horizontal reach, an upwardly inclined reach, and a downwardly inclined reach; a container for the liquid material disposed adjacent to the generally horizontal reach so that stockings carried by the filamentary element are dragged through the liquid material; means disposed along the upwardly inclined reach for pressing excess liquid from the stockings; means disposed further along the upwardly inclined reach for clearing liquid from the intersticesof the stocking material; and guide means for swinging the stockings outward from the filamentary element and its support at the peak of the angle between the upward reach and the downward reach of the path of travel.

4. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and-for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a filamentary element having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along the length thereof and extending in for wardly inclined directions so that stockings will hang thereon when the filamentary element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide ofi whenthe element is progressing downwardly; means for causing the filamentary element'to travel through a path including, in sequence, a generally horizontal reach, an upwardly inclined reach, and a downwardly inclined reach; a con tainer for the liquid material disposed adjacent to the generally horizontalreach so' that stockings carried by. the filamentary element are draggedthrough the liquid material; means disposed alongthe upwardlyinclined reach for-ree moving liquid material from the stockings; and guide means .for swinging the: stockings outward from the filamentary element and its support at the peak .of the angle between the upward reach and the downward reach of the path of travel.

5. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a filae mentary. element having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along the length thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings will hang thereon when the filamentary element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide off when the element is progressing downwardly; means for causing the filamentary element to travel through a path including, in sequence, a generally horizontal reach, an upwardly inclined reach, and a downwardly inclined reach; a container for the liquid material disposed adjacent to the generally horizontal reach so that stockings carried by the filamentary element are dragged through the liquid material; and means disposed along the upwardly inclined reach for removing liquid material from the stockings.

6; Apparatus for treating sheer stockings and for: similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a filamentary element having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along the length thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings will hang thereon when the filamentary element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide off when the element is progressing downwardly; means for causing the filamentary element to travel in a progressive fashion through a path including a downwardly inclined reach preceded by another reach which is not downwardly inclined; and means adjacent the-last said reach for treating stockings carried by the filamentary element; whereby the stockings are retained on the projections during and immediately after the treatment but are automatically dropped therefrom as the filamentary element progresses to and along the downwardly extending-reach.

7. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a filamentary element having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spacedeapart positions along the length thereof and extending in forwardly inclined directions so that Stockings will hang thereon when the filamentarry element is progressing forwardly or upwardly but will slide ofi when the element is progressing downwardly; means for causing the filamentary element to travel in a progressive fashion through a pathincluding a downwardly inclined reach preceded by another reach which is not downwardly inclined; means adjacent the last said reach for treating the stockings; and guide means adjacent the point of passage from the last said reach to the downwardly inclined reach for swinging the treated stockings outward from the filamentary element.

8 Apparatus for treating sheer stockings and for similar purposes, said apparatus being of the in which; the stockings are carried past a tre g station by a traveling conveyor means; said traveling conveyor means including a traveling filamentary element having a plurality of pointed projections. disposed at spaced-apart po.-.- sitionsrolona anedge thereof and being permae nently fixed in laterally project n rela ion. wi respect.to-thetraveh g elemen he p oje ti n exte din i orward y incli ed dire ti ns so that stockings will hang ther on when t e fi a entar element :isuproe ossin pw r ly b t, will slid off whentheelement is progressing downwardly. .9. Apparatus for tr ating Sheer stockings and for. similar purposes, said appa atus being of the type .in which the stockings are carried past a 10 treating stationby a trave g c nvey r means; said, traveling convey r means in di an end: less metal tape having a. plurality of pointed proi c ions diSDOSBd atspaced-apart positions along an. edge thereof and. ext ndin laterally with re- 5 spect to the traveling element in forwardly inclined d ections. so that stockings will han thereon when he tap is p essing pwardly but will i e o f when. the elem nt is progr ssing downwardly.

10.. Apparatus for treatin sheer stockings and for similar purposes, said apparatus "being of the type in which the stockings are carried past a treating station by a traveling conveyor means; said traveling conveyor means including a metal tape having a plurality of pointed projections ispo d at spaced-apar positi ns, along an d thereof and extending laterally with respectv :to the traveling element in forwardly inclined directions in the plane of the tape so that the tape may passsrnoothly over supports and so that stockings will hang on the projections when the tape is progressing upwardly but will slide off wh n t e t e is. pro ressing downwardly. illApparat l folttreating sheer stockings and 3 for s mi ar purposes, said apparatus being of the type in which the stockings are carried past a t ea in -st tion by a traveling c n m ns: said traveling conveyor means including a thin metal tape having a; plurality of laterally extending and forwardly-directed sharp projections diSDOSEd at spaced-apart positions along the edge thereof for engaging stockings, said pros jections being defined by sharply oblique rear-v wardly directed slots. in the edge of the tape.

12. Apparatus for treating stockings with a iguiimateria and "917 Similar purposes; said '99?!" atus ompr s ner 1 q mbination. a container orthe i uid material and means for dra gin tuesto kin s throug the l u d material. in the containe -saidmeans'including a traveling conveyorelemen-t of V extensive length having at spaced apartpoints along th length thereof 7 a plurality- .of meanseach adapted to engage a portionpf astocking while permitting the rest of the stoc ing ra l fre y throu h e liquid mateiziaL-a ub tant al reach of the s id onveyorelement a sius; through a normally submerged zone otthe container, whereby the stockings are substantially submerged horizontally While being dragged in a generally horizontal direction through the liquid material in the container.

- l Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with at quid-material nd for simila pu poses; s id apparatus comprising, in combination, a containe fornthe liquid material and means for d gglngfl ihe stockin s individually through the liquid material in the Container, said means ineludin 'aitraveling tape-like element having meallfizadapted' to. engage a stocking in a single localized zone thereof, a substantial reach of the i fiipfislikfl element. passing through a normally submerged zone of the container, whereby the stocking ispermitted to trail freely through the liquidvfmateri'al while substantially submerged therein.

I ings to be treated and, in combination with the container, means for dragging the stockings individually in a generally horizontal direction through the liquid material in the container; said means including a traveling tape-like element passing through the said liquid material and having means adapted to engage a stocking in a single localized zone thereof, a substantial reach of the tape-like element passing through a normally submerged zone of the container, whereby the stocking is permitted to trail freely while passing generally horizontally and substantially submerged through the liquid material.

15. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, traveling conveyor means for transporting the stockings; means disposed along the path of the conveyor for treating the stockings with liquid material; presser means disposed further along the path of the conveyor for pressing excess liquid from the stockings in a progressive manner; and air discharge means disposed still further along the path of the conveyor for removing liquid from the interstices of the stocking material.

16. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes; said apparatus comprising, in combination, traveling conveyor means for transporting the stockings;

means disposed along the path of the conveyor for treating the stockings with liquid material; and air-discharge means disposed further along the path of the conveyor for removing liquid from the treated stockings.

17. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings with a liquid material and for similar purposes, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for the liquid material, an apron having a non-snagging surface extending from an edge of the container, and traveling conveyor means passing over the apron in close proximity thereto for dragging the stockings across the apron and thence through the liquid material.

18. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings and for similar purposes, said apparatus comprising a pair of presser rolls and a conveyor element arranged for travel between the presser rolls, said conveyor element comprising a tape-like member having a plurality of pointed projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along an edge thereof, the said projections extending laterally with respect to the traveling element and in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings and the like will hang thereon when the conveyor ele"- ment is progressing upwardly but will slide oil" when the element is progressing downwardly and so that the conveyor together with stockings and the like carried thereby may pass without difficulty between the presser rolls.

19. Apparatus for treating sheer stockings and for similar purposes, said apparatus comprising a pairof closely spaced members for operating on the stockings and a conveyor element arranged for travel between the said closely spaced members, said conveyor element comprising a tapelike member having a plurality of barb-like projections disposed at spaced-apart positions along an edge thereof, the projections extending laterally with respectto the traveling element and in forwardly inclined directions so that stockings and the like will hang thereon when the conveyor element is progressing upwardly but will slide ofif when the element is progressing downwardly and so that the con-veyor together with stockings and the like carried thereby may pass without difficulty between the said closely spaced members.

20. Apparatus for treating stockings with liquid material and for similar purposes, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for the liquid treating material, a traveling conveyor element of extensive length having means for impaling stockings and the like thereon at spaced-apart positions along the element, the conveyor element being arranged to traverse a path passing through the liquid treating material in the said container for a substantial reach, means disposed further along the path of the conveyor for operating on the treated stockings, and means further along said path for automatically removing the impaled stockings from the conveyor.

21. Apparatus for treating stockings and for similar purposes, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a traveling conveyor element of extensive length having means for impaling stockings and the like thereon at spaced-apart positions along the element, means for treating the stockings while traveling with the conveyor element, and means for thereafter automatically removing the stockings from the conveyor.

ADRIAN H. FEIKERT. 

